Method and apparatus for dispensing liquids



Jan. 6, 195-9 C. E. DENLINGER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS Filed March 22, 1956 3 Sheets- Sheet l INVENTOR. CARL E. DENLINGER BY .*r% 5% ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1959 c. EDENLINGER 2,867,249

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1956 INVENTOR. CARL E. DENLINGER ATTORNEYS 1959 c. E. DENLINGER 7,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS Filed March 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i g r: \z'llllllllllllllliz INVENTORI. CARL E. DENLINGER ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS Carl E. Denlinger, Dayton, Ohio, Iron & Brass Works, Dayton, Ohio Application March 22, 1956, Serial No. 573,239

assignor to Buckeye Ohio, a corporation of 3 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices such as nozzles for gasoline dispensing pumps, and is particularly concerned with automatic nozzles of this type which are adapted for latching open and then automatically closing when the tank being supplied with gasoline is filled.

Nozzles of this type are known and a particularly satisfactory type of construction thereof is shown in the Davis Patent 2,320,033. A disadvantage of these nozzles, however, resides in the fact that it is necessary to either close the valves manually or for the tank being supplied with gasoline to become completely filled, whereupon the valves automatically trip closed. Obviously this involves the disadvantage that if the nozzle is left open accidentally it will remain open and discharge gasoline which might create an extreme hazard.

Similarly, if, for some reason, an automobile whose tank is being filled with gasoline moves away from thegasoline pump, as might occur if the car crept due to the car having automatic transmission, the nozzle would be pulled from the tank opening and continue to discharge.

For the foregoing reasons there are many localities avtfin.

where such hose nozzles are not acceptable to the local safety groups, and the advantages of the automatic nozzle arrangement is thus lost in these regions.

A primary object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks referred to above and provide a nozzle arrangement of the automatic type which cannot be opened or maintained open except when it is in the filling opening of the tank.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an automatically closing nozzle which will also close automatically upon the nozzle being withdrawn from the filling opening of the tank.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a filling nozzle with an automatic shutofi which cannot be opened except when the nozzle is in the filling opening of the tank.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a method of dispensing gasoline and the like in which the hazard of accidentally spilling gasoline, due to an improper functioning nozzle, is substantially limited.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an atttachment which can be placed on a conventional automatic shutoff nozzle to convert the same to a nozzle having the characteristics of the present invention, namely, one which can be opened and will remain open only when in the filling opening of the tank.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a more or less diagrammatic perspective view showing a nozzle according to the present invention mounted in the filling opening of a gasoline tank;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the nozzleas it appears in the filling opening of the tank and with'the nozzle latched open;

7 2,867,249 Patented Jan. 6, 1959 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the nozzle snapped closed upon being removed-from the filling opening of the tank;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing theport near the discharge end of the nozzle that becomes covered when the gasoline rises in the filling neck to a point where it is desired to close oif the nozzle in normal operation;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view indicated by line 55 on Figure 3 showing the mannerin which the mechanical trip lever, according to the present invention, embraces the spout of the nozzle;

Figure 6 is a sectional view indicated by line 6-6 on Figure 2 showing the construction of the latching mechanism forming a part of the structure of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a side view partly in section showing a modified structure according to the presentinvention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view indicated by line -88 on Figure 7 showing a pivotal-inner connection between some of the parts of the device;

ice

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view indicated by line.

9-9 on Figure 7 showing the mannerin which the mechanical trip device engages the spout of the nozzle; and Figure 10 is a view of a modication showing a dilTer-. ent manner in which the nozzle can betripped closed within the purview ofthe present invention.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, Figure 1 shows a fragment 10 of a car having a gasoline tank 12 with a filling neck 14. Filling neck 14 is adapted for receiving a nozzle, generally indicated at 16, through On the opposite side of valve seat 24 from passage 22,

the passage through the valve body communicates, as at 32, with an elongated tubular discharge spout 34 that extends into the filling opening 14. I

According to the present invention movement of stem 30 to open valve member 26 is accomplished by the hand lever 36 which is pivotally connected at 38 with a support member in the form of movable stem 40. Stem 40 extends upwardly through the valve body and has its upper end located within compartment 42, which may be closed by a cover 44.. On its upper end stem 40 carries a block 46 having a generally L-shaped slot 48 therein.

Located within the L-shaped slot is a pair of rollers 50 mounted on a carrier 52 that is connected with a diaphragm 54 that is clamped in sealing relation over a vacuum compartment 56 by a clamp member 58. On the side of diaphragm opposite carrier member 52 is a plate 60 that is engaged by one end of a pressure spring 62, the other end of which bears against the valve body. It will be evident that spring 62 serves tourge carrier 52 leftwardly so that whenever block 46 is in its upper in effective position. I

Member 58 is arranged to receive and guide the ends position, rollers 50 will drop into the laterally extending leg of the L-shaped slot therein, and thereby prevent downward movement of member 46 or stem 40 which is connected therewith. This latches the support-member occupy their Figure 2'position upward movement of the right end of lever 36 will bring about upward movement of stem and valve memberl26 to open the nozzle.

According .to this inventjontheguide 66 around lever 36 'is preferably provided with apertures or notches 68 for receiving the end of lever 36 for latching .,it' me plurality of positions representing different degrees of opening of the valve.

It ,has been mentioned that the valve is of'an automatic shutoff type. This is accomplished by connecting legiofltheL-shap'ed slot 'in blocki46,whereupon comprejssion spring. 28 will overcome compression spring 64 and snap the valve closedfl According to the present invention this action of the valveis augmented bymechanical means for effecting this movement. of the rollers 50. This is done by providing alever 80which extends'along the top of spout 34 and-terminates adjacent. the discharge end of the spout in a loopiportion 82 that loosely embraces the spout, as will'be seen in'Fi'gure 5.

At the opposite end of the spout lever 80 extends beneath the edge of cover 44, which is preferably notched to receive the lever and a pivotal connection between the lever and cover is thereby formed. Within the cover the lever extends vertically upwardly as at 84 and terminates in ;a pair of arms 86 which, as will be seen in Figure 6, extendinwardly on opposite sides of slotted block 46 and are adapted for. engaging the rollers 50 when they are in ;their Figure 2 position. I

A spring 88 is provided between the spout 34 and lever 80 which has one end bearing onthespout and the other end bearing on the lever; within a pocket 89 provided partment in which the latching rollers are located, as by a pin 94. An end of arm-90fprojects out the front of the cover and has attached thereto an elongated flexible leaf 96. The outer end of leaf 96 is provided with any suitable means for retaining it slidably on the spout of the nozzle, as by means ofthe loop arrangement 98.

In the Figures 7, 8 and 9' construction the leaf 96 and arm 90 normally occupytheir dotted line position, but 7 whenever the nozzleis introducedinto the filling opening therefor so that lever 80is normally urged toward the position atwhich it is illustrated in Figure 3... In this position it will beevidentthat thejarms 86m'ove rollers into their-unlatchedv posit-ion so'that"the1valve will snap closed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that thelvalve accord ing to the present invention can only .be opened when lever 80 is held down against spout-.34,Ias..in Figure '2,

and that this normallyoccurs .only' whenlthe-nozzleis located within the filling openin'gof a gasoline tank,-and

that withdrawing of the nozzlefrom the ffilling opening, I 'either deliberately or accidentally; will cause the valve to trip closed. Accidental openingof the'nozzl is prace ticallv impossible since the lever 80 .wouldhave to.be held in its Figure 2 position .to accomplish the opening of the valve unless it is disposed in the filling opening of the tank as illustrated. f

The above described form, which is the preferred embodiment of. the presentinvention, can readily be adapted to. existing. automatic shutofi .valves of the type shown in the Davis Patent 2,320,033, with substantially no modification of structure,- whereby the combination of the lever 80 and the compression spring therefon'as at' 88,

' point on the discharge spout of the 'valve, said latch would form a salable item, eitherwitha special;coveri4 4 ortogether with. instructions for notchingioupan existing cover;

A modificatiomofjthisinvention isshownjnFigures 7, 8 and 9, wherein, instead of using a. stitfelever along.

thedischargejspout of the n0zzle,.ai.flexiblejmember is employed: In these figures :antarm:i90. is :lprovided Ifor actuating the'latching rollers. 'of the Lvalve,': arid this;cor-:'

respondsLquit'e closely with portion-84 of lever 8il; IArm 90,-: however, is pivotedpas at 92, to the cover of .the comof the gasoline tank they will be moved to their fullline' position thereby permitting their rollers to shift into the position where the valve can be opened.

The method of the present invention, consisting of etfecting the automatic closing of the nozzle, uponits being In anaarrang'ement. of this nature,- by way-of example 111 Figure 10, there is provided a pad. 100 which is'nor mally positioned :to close of]? the port means 102 in the;

spout of the nozzle through which the suction-to the chainber behind .the diaphragm I connected with the latching rollers is. released. Pad 109 is carried on an arm 104 pivotally supported on a-spout 106 of the nozzle andhaving an' actuating projection 108that is movable when the nozzle is placedrin the filling opening of the tank to shift the pad away from the port means 102.

Whenever the nozzle is withdrawn from the filling opening spring 110 snaps arm 104 into position to press pad 106 against port means 102,-whereby a vacuum is quickly 7 bullt up inthe aforementionedcompartment and-causes the valve to snap closed. 7 I

It will be understood thatthis invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions,-and accordinglyit is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fallwithin the. scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing nozzle; a valve body having a flow passage therethrough, a valve member in the valve body normally spring-urged into position'to C1OS $3ld:- passage andmovable tofopen the passage, a lever movablefor actuating said valve member, a slidabl y mounted support member pivotally supporting said lever-'having one position where the lever is eifective for moving the -valve member and another positionwhere thelever is ineffective, latch means for engaging and holding said supportmember in its said one position, means operable for disengaging the latch means fromsaid support member when the fluid in the tank being filled reachesa predetermined means being located on the nozzle side of the valve body and being movable toward the valve bodyfor becoming disengagedfrom .said support member, and means for mechanically moving said latch means into disengaging position comprising an angular element having one leg portion engaging the latch means on the side opposite the valve body and the other leg portion extending along the top of the spout of the dispensing nozzle toward the discharge end of the spout, said angular member being pivotally supported on the'valve body with said other leg movable toward and away from said spout whereby introduction of the spout in the filler opening of the tank and depression of the spout portion of said angular element toward said spout will permit movementof the latch means, into its engaging position.

2 In a liquid dispensinginozzle for supplying liquid to a .liquidreceiver through-a filling opening therein a valve body having a flow'passage ing in an elongated spout,'-said valve seat therein, a valve memberspringv-urged toward engagement with saidseat and having a stem for lifting it off said seat, a lever associated with-said'stem movable therethrough terminah, fiow passage having a manually for lifting the valve member off the seat, means at one end of the lever for latching it in valve open po sition, a slidable support pivotally supporting the opposite end of said lever, said support being movable axially from a first position where the lever is effective for moving the valve member and to a second position where the lever is ineffective for moving the valve member, a spring urging the support member towards said first position with less thrust than the spring acting on said valve member in pressing the lever in the opposite direction, a latch spring-urged toward a position of engagement with said support member in its said first position and movable for releasing said member, means operable by fluid flow through the said flow passage when the said spout is immersed in liquid for moving the said latch into position for releasing said member, said latch comprising a carrier on the side of said valve body toward said spout, and a mechanical trip member pivotally supported on the valve body and having a first leg portion engaging the latch and a second leg portion extending along the spout and movable toward and away from said spout, said trip member being arranged for moving the latch into releasing position when the said second leg portion is moved away from said spout and permitting the latch to move to effective position when the said second leg portion is moved toward said spout as will occur when the spout is introduced into the filling opening and said second leg portion is depressed toward said spout, and there being spring means urging the said second leg portion away from the spout.

3. In combination with an automatic nozzle having a valve operable to open the nozzle and a trip mechanism operable when tripped to cause immediate closing of the valve, a device for mounting on the nozzle which comprises; an angular lever having an arcuate longer arm adapted for lying along the top of the spout of the nozzle and loosely embracing the said spout so as to be retained on the spout while being movable toward and away from said spout and a shorter arm having means for engaging and actuating the trip mechanism of the valve, and means on the longer arm for retaining a spring between it and the spout of said nozzle so that said spring urges said longer arm away from said spout, said trip mechanism comprising a portion external of the valve that is engaged by the shorter arm of the lever, there being a cover element mounted on the nozzle and enclosing said portion of the trip mechanism and the shorter arm of the lever, the said cover retaining the lever in assembled relation with the valve and providing a pivotal support therefor on the nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,941 Payne Mar. 15, 1938 2,303,179 Sitton ct al Nov. 24, 1942 2,320,033 Davis, Jr. May 25, 1943 2,528,747 Gravelle Nov. 7, 1950 2,547,690 Chadil et va1. Apr. 3, 1951 

